Combination of wringing mechanism and container

ABSTRACT

In combination a wringing mechanism and a container, the container including at least one side wall which encloses a containing space from a container bottom up to a peripheral edge formation, and the wringing mechanism including a body, and a basket for receiving mop material to be wrung out, and at least one moveable press member which is moveable in the basket by a transmission, upon movement of a wringing lever handle downwardly towards a front of the container to squeeze the mop material, and the wringing mechanism being supported on the peripheral edge formation of the container by a hook formation provided by the wringer mechanism body, with at least the basket depending into the containing space, and the wringing mechanism further including a pair of side wall support formations each of which co-operates with a corresponding formation of the container side wall interiorly of the containing space to support the container side wall during wringing, and there being a plurality of releasable attachment devices releasably to attach the wringing mechanism to the container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/997,959, filed Jan. 21, 2011, which is the U.S. National Stage of PCT Application No. PCT/GB2009/000057, filed on Jan. 12, 2009, which claims priority to U.K. Application No. 0810940.7, filed on Jun. 14, 2008 in Great Britain, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a combination of a wringing mechanism and a container, such as a bucket.

It is well established to mount wringing mechanisms in or on buckets. In one example as exemplified in GB-A-2243537 there is described a wringing mechanism which has a body with a hook formation which hooks over a rear portion of a bucket periphery, whilst a front part of the body includes a brace which engages with the bucket periphery at each side, forwardly of the rear portion, whilst the remainder of the wringing mechanism depends within the container.

Because the wringing mechanism is supported at both the front by the brace and at the rear by the container by the hook formation, a wringing mechanism can be used which has a relatively long handle to exert leverage on a press member of the mechanism. However to prevent the bucket distorting under the leverage forces exerted by the long handle lever, the bucket may require a wall thickness greater than would be the case if only lesser leverage was possible using a shorter wringing handle.

In GB-A-2439273 another wringing mechanism is disclosed which is releasably secured to the periphery of a bucket by a plurality of clips which can be released to enable the wringing mechanism to be lifted off the bucket by means of a lifting handle provided on the wringing mechanism. By this means the wringing mechanism can readily be removed from the bucket e.g. to facilitate emptying of the bucket, or changing the wringing mechanisms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides in combination a wringing mechanism and a container, the container including at least one side wall which encloses a containing space from a container bottom up to a peripheral edge formation, and the wringing mechanism including a body, and a basket for receiving mop material to be wrung out, and at least one moveable press member which is moveable in the basket by a transmission, upon movement of a wringing lever handle downwardly towards a front of the container to squeeze the mop material, and the wringing mechanism being supported on the peripheral edge formation of the container by a hook formation provided by the wringing mechanism body, with at least the basket depending into the containing space, and the wringing mechanism further including a pair of side wall support formations each of which co-operates with a corresponding formation of the container side wall interiorly of the containing space to support the container side wall during wringing, and there being a plurality of releasable attachment devices releasably to attach the wringing mechanism to the container.

The side wall support formations and the corresponding formations of the container may co-operate at positions intermediate the container bottom and the peripheral edge formation.

The present invention utilizes the advantages of the combinations of GB-A-2243537 and GB-A-2439273. However because of the support provided interiorly of the containing space, the container wall may be thinner than with an arrangement such as in GB-A-2243537 thus saving cost, and although the wringing mechanism may be supported on the peripheral edge formation of the container at two positions either side of the hook formation, no brace is required as in GB-A-2243537. Moreover the present invention enables the ready separation of the wringing mechanism from the container as in GB-A-2439273, and to this end, the wringing mechanism may include a handle to facilitate lifting the wringing mechanism from the container.

The interior side wall formations of the container corresponding to the side wall support formations of the wringing mechanism may conveniently be recesses which open upwardly, which where the container is molded, may be integrally molded with the at least one container side wall. Typically the container includes a pair of opposing side walls, and a front and a rear wall, the formations being integral with the side walls. The side wall support formations of the wringing mechanism may extend downwardly and engage in the corresponding formations of the container, as the basket of the wringing mechanism is lowered into the containing space.

Where the container includes a pair of opposing side walls, and a front and a rear wall, the hook formation may engage with a rear wall portion of the peripheral edge formation, and optionally the wringing mechanism may be supported on each of side wall portions of the peripheral edge formation of the container.

The peripheral edge formation of the container may include a lip.

The releasable attachment devices may be clips pivotally connected to the exterior of the at least one side wall of the container adjacent the peripheral edge formation, and the clips may pivot to latch onto respective formations of the wringing mechanism body to attach the wringing mechanism to the container. In another arrangement the clips may be pivotally connected to the wringing mechanism body and may pivot to latch onto the peripheral edge formation of the container to attach the wringing mechanism to the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative perspective view of a combination in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view from above of the combination of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view, with parts removed to reveal inside workings, of the combination of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 3 a is a detailed cross-sectional view of a connection between the parts of the combination of FIGS. 1 to 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings there is shown a combination 10 of a wringing mechanism 20 and a container 50.

The wringing mechanism 20 includes a body 21 which includes sides 22, 23, and between the sides 22, 23, an open topped basket 24 for receiving mop material to be wrung out. Within the basket 24 there is a pair of moveable press members 25 a, 25 b which are moveable relative to one another and towards a bottom of the basket 24, by a transmission 26, upon movement of a wringing lever handle 27 downwardly towards a front peripheral edge lip portion 55 a of the container 50, to squeeze the mop material.

The transmission 26 includes a toothed segment 28 which is moved on an axle 29 by the handle 27, the toothed segment engaging with a drive member 30 which moves, and carries the press members 25 a, 25 b in cam fashion, to exert a squeezing on the mop material. The drive member 30 is spring biased to return the handle 27 to the upright position shown in the figures, and to return the press members 25 a, 25 b to an open condition to release the mop material.

Such a transmission 26 construction is well known and further description is not necessary.

The container 50 is in this example a molded bucket, having a container bottom 52 upwardly from which extend, a pair of opposing container side walls 53, 54, a front wall 55 and a rear wall 56 which side, front and end walls 53-55 enclose a containing space 57 between the bucket bottom 52 and an upper peripheral edge lip 58. The lip 58 includes in this example the front portion 55 a, respective side portions 53 a, 54 a and a rear lip portion 56 a.

In another example, the container 50 could be circular or another shape and thus may have one, or more or less than the four side walls described, and instead of the uppermost lip 58 of the container 50, another peripheral edge formation 58 may be provided, such as for example only, a thickened rim.

In the example, the container 50 includes a handle 60 by means of which the container 50 can be lifted, at least when the container 50 and wringing mechanism 20 are separated as described below. Also in the example, the container 50 is moveable over a floor by means of four castors 62 or wheels, which may be provided by a dolly upon which the container 50 is mounted, and from which the container 50 can be readily removed from the dolly by lifting, or the castors 62 may be integral with the container 50 as in the example.

In another example, the container 50, or the dolly, may have only three castors or wheels, or the container or dolly may have more than four castors or wheels.

The wringing mechanism 20 is supported on the peripheral edge formation 58 of the container 50 by a hook formation 66 provided by the wringer mechanism 20, the hook formation 66 being provided by the wringer mechanism body 21 in this example. The basket 24 depends into the containing space 57 between the body side walls 53, 54, 55, 56 of the wringer mechanism 20.

The wringing mechanism 20 further includes a pair of side wall support formations 68, 69 each of which co-operates with corresponding formations 68 a, 69 a which are provided internally of a respective container 50 side wall 53, 54 interiorly of the containing space 57, to support the bucket side walls 53, 54 during wringing.

In the example, the side wall support formations 68, 69 are provided by depending feet which extend downwardly below the basket 24 in the containing space 57. The corresponding formations 68 a, 69 a of the container side walls 53, 54 are provided by upwardly opening recesses each having a base part 68 b, 69 b, which extends into of the containing space 57 from the respective side wall 53, 54, and an upstanding lip 68 c, 69 c, which extends in a direction which is generally parallel to the respective side wall 53, 54. Hence, each formation 68 a, 69 a is a channel in which a respective one of the side wall support formations 68, 69 can be supported. In this example, with the container 50 being molded, the formations 68 a, 69 a are integrally molded with the container side walls 53, 54. The feet formations 68, 69 and recesses 68 a, 69 a engage as the basket 24 of the wringing mechanism 20 is lowered into the containing space 57.

During wringing, the wringing mechanism 20 is supported relative to the container 50 by the hook formation 66 which hooks over the rear lip portion 56 a of the peripheral edge formation 58 of the container 50, and also by the engaging side wall support formations 68, 69 and corresponding formations 68 a, 69 a of the container side walls 53, 54. Moreover, the engagement of the side wall support formations 68, 69 and corresponding formations 68 a, 69 a of the container 50, support the side walls 53, 54 of the container 50, against any tendency to buckle when large generally downwardly acting forces are exerted as the handle 27 of the wringing mechanism 20 is pulled down and mop material is squeezed. The fact that each of the formations 68 a, 69 a includes an upstanding lip 68 c, 69 c means that the side walls 53, 54 are supported against buckling in a direction outwardly of the container 50 as well as outwardly of the container 50. Furthermore, the upstanding lips 68 c, 69 c inhibit the support formations 68, 69 from disengaging from the formations 68 a, 69 a.

The wringing mechanism 20 is releasably attached to the container 50 by means of a plurality of releasable attachment devices 70, 71. In this example there are a pair of such devices 70, 71, one at each container side 53, 54. In the example these are clips which are pivoted to the container side walls 53, 54, and may be pivoted to latch onto or release respective formations 75 provided on the body 21 of the wringing mechanism 20. In another embodiment, the clips 70, 71 may be pivoted to the wringing mechanism 50 and latch onto formations of the container 50, such as portions of the peripheral edge formation 58.

In each case, when the clips 70, 71 are latched to attach the wringing mechanism 20 and the container 50, the container 50 and wringing mechanism 20 may be lifted as one, using a lifting handle 82 provided on the wringing mechanism body 21. When the clips 70, 71 are unlatched, the wringing mechanism 20 may be lifted from the container 50, for example to facilitate filling or emptying the container 50 with cleaning liquid in the containing space 57, possibly using the lifting handle 60 provided on the container 50.

Various modifications not already mentioned may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, if desired, further support formations, such as a pair of supports may be provided either side of the hook formation 66, forwardly of the rear portion 56 a of the peripheral edge formation 58, for example to engage with the side wall peripheral edge portions 53 a, 54 a of the container 50, if extra support is needed.

The container 50 need not be molded as described, but could be otherwise fabricated. The particular wringing mechanism 20 and container 50 configurations depicted in the drawings are purely exemplary and may be varied.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilized for realizing the invention in diverse forms thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. In combination a wringing mechanism and a container, the container including at least one side wall which encloses a containing space from a container bottom up to a peripheral edge formation, and the wringing mechanism including a body, and a basket for receiving mop material to be wrung out, and at least one moveable press member which is moveable in the basket by a transmission, upon movement of a wringing lever handle downwardly towards a front of the container to squeeze the mop material, and the wringing mechanism being supported on the peripheral edge formation of the container by a hook formation provided by the wringer mechanism body, with at least the basket depending into the containing space, and the wringing mechanism further including a pair of side wall support formations each of which co-operates with a corresponding formation of the container side wall interiorly of the containing space to support the container side wall during wringing, and there being a plurality of releasable attachment devices releasably to attach the wringing mechanism to the container.
 2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the side wall support formations and the corresponding formations of the container co-operate at positions intermediate the container bottom and the peripheral edge formation.
 3. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the wringing mechanism is additionally supported on the peripheral edge formation of the container at two positions either side of the hook formation.
 4. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the wringing mechanism includes a handle for lifting the wringing mechanism from the container.
 5. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the interior side wall formations of the container corresponding to the side wall support formations of the wringing mechanism are recesses which open upwardly.
 6. A combination according claim 5 wherein the container is molded and the interior side wall formations of the container are integrally molded with the container side wall or walls.
 7. A combination according to claim 6, wherein the container includes a pair of opposing side walls, and a front and a rear wall, the formations being integral with the side walls.
 8. A combination according to claim 5, wherein the side wall support formations of the wringing mechanism extend downwardly and engage in the corresponding formations of the container, as the basket of wringing mechanism is lowered into the containing space.
 9. A combination according to claim 8, wherein each interior side wall formation of the container includes a base part and an upstanding lip, which form a channel in which the corresponding side wall support formation of the wringing mechanism is received as the basket of the wringing mechanism is lowered into the containing space.
 10. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the container includes a pair of opposing side walls, and a front and a rear wall, and the hook formation engages with a rear wall portion of the peripheral edge formation.
 11. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the wringing mechanism is supported on each of side wall portions of the peripheral edge formation of the container.
 12. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge formation of the container includes a lip.
 13. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the releasable attachment devices are clips pivotally connected to the exterior of the at least one side wall of the container adjacent the peripheral edge formation, and the clips pivot to latch onto respective formations of the wringing mechanism body to attach the wringing mechanism to the container.
 14. A combination according to claim 12, wherein the releasable attachment devices are clips pivotally connected to the wringing mechanism body and pivot to latch onto the peripheral edge formation of the container to attach the wringer mechanism to the container. 